Alethia II

That was all he could
see. It streamed from Anwen’s stomach down the pale marble altar
and pooled at Kyna’s feet. He saw colour leave Anwen’s skin and she
struggled to keep her eyes open. Arthur’s was vaguely aware Kyna
calling Merlin to them and two of them shouting healing spells on
Anwen. All he was focused on was Anwen’s paling face and screams of
pain that tore from her throat.

Arthur woke up with a start
thin layer of sweat on his face as he worked to get his breathing
under control. Despite the fact that the Dorocha incident happened
five months ago, he still had nightmares. It was a small and hollow
comfort to know he was not the only one. Every member of their
group had some form of nightmares, all revolving about what
happen…

Eight pairs of eyes stared at the dagger in
Anwen’s hand, unable to stop admiring its cold beauty. Although as
Merlin stared at it, he could feel its presence, almost as if the
dagger was alive but he assumed it had something to do with the
ruby embedded in the handle.

“Caru…what?”

“Carublæd. It was
given to me by Rhiannon, High Priestess after Kyna and I completed
our final test on Bælial.”

“I’ve never seen it before.” Kyna remarked.

“Because I never believed I would have to use it.”

“What exactly does it do?” Lancelot asked suspiciously, he knew
he was not going to like where this was going the moment she drew
out that blade.

“It has been made few centuries ago when some of the Priests and
Priestess objected that the blood sacrifice for Caille…

And then, in Arthur’s opinion, Merlin had to
be an idiot and jump in front of the Dorocha instead of him. In
those few seconds as Merlin hung suspended in the air and then
flung into the wall behind him, Arthur honestly thought that was
it. That the conversation they had just few moments before Merlin
jumped to protect him was the last one he had ever had with Merlin.
And yet here they were. Morning after and Merlin was alive. But
both Anwen and Kyna stated that he was dying and needed to be taken
back to Gaius.

Ever since he met his manservant, Arthur knew
there was something different about him. The happy-go-lucky
attitude always puzzled him. As he started get to k…

“We need some wood and horses need to be
watered.” Arthur stated when they stopped their journey to the Isle
of the Blessed.

Merlin of course immediately went to get the
wood, not wishing to be present for Anwen’s lecture session. Arthur
grimaced the moment he spotted his cousin narrow gaze on him. After
hours of deathly silence, it seemed he was in for lecture. Not that
he thought he deserved it, considering his decision to leave on the
quest whilst she was still unconscious. He was surprised though
when she approached him and started talking in eerily calm voice.
In his opinion, that was much worse that shouting.

“Do you have so low opinion of yourself that
you are willing to just walk into your death?”

When Anwen came back to the realm of
consciousness, first thing she noticed was Lancelot sleeping
besides her, clad in his daily outfit with small worried frown
gracing his brow. She sighed a bit and caressed his stubble cheek,
wondering how long she was asleep and how long was he keeping vigil
over her before falling asleep from the exhaustion
himself.

Her movements seemed to have woken him and
soon she found herself staring in his dark brown eyes that were
full of concern and fear. But fear of what?

“How long was I asleep?”

“Two nights and one day, you were really
worn. For moment we thought you just slipped away.”

“I am sorry to have caused you such worry.
What has happened whilst I was out?”